Pajama Day is this Friday, January 29!!

This month's Dress Down Day is Pajama Day at Elmbank JMA. Please remember to donate $1 for charity if you participate. Many thanks in advance.

Happy Family Literacy Day!

Family Literacy Day takes place every year on January 27 and was created by the ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation to encourage families to read and learn together.

Literacy is more than books. There are so many ways to help your son or daughter strengthen their literacy skills -all it takes is practicing for 15 minutes every day. Reading, writing, playing a game, following a recipe or even singing a song all help prepare your child for challenges ahead. It also helps sharpen your skills as an adult reader.

Here is a great resource, The Family Literacy Day activity book and remember to keep reading every night.

Well, we are well into the swing of things after the holidays. We began our new unit this week - "I can make a difference." For the next few weeks, our focus will be strenthening our inferring skills and making connections. The boys and girls will learn how to improve their reading by using specific strategies like making connections between what they know and what they are reading.

Our spelling quiz is tomorrow. Our Words of the Week are:

Martin Luther King Jr.

parade

speech

courage

difference

In addition, to our spelling words of the week, it is crucial that each grade one student learn the a list of common words. These words are referred to as Dolch sight words. You recieved a list of these words at Curriculum Night and just before the holidays. Please ensure that your child is practising at least five of these words nightly.

This week we read the book, Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport. This was a wonderful lesson to introduce our "I can make a difference" unit. The boys and girls were very interested in King's life and learned a lot about how he made helped affect change in a peaceful way.

The First Week Back...

Well the first week back was a great one. We learned about the 5w's - who, what where, when, why and how. The children also began blending consonants. We watched some fun phonics videos that helped us understand that when we put two consonants together we get one sound. We also read a wonderful book about a bear that loves trees - "Big Bear Hug" by Nicholas Oldland- I think it may be one of our favourites this year.

Tomorrow is our Spelling Quiz.

Please remember to return your child's trip form for our trip in February.

Words of the Week

Here are the words of the week:

snowflakes

new year

resolution

jacket

gloves

Our quiz will be on Monday, January 10.

Ready, Set, Go!!!

I hope everyone had a restful few weeks away from school. During this first week, students will receive their homework books and calendars. Please write a note in your child's planner if you have any questions or concerns. I wish everyone a happy 2010!